AuSM

See Me Neurodiverse support meeting
2024-10-03 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | See Me Neurodiverse, 6000 McColl Drive, Savage, MN, 55378
This is a support meeting for the parents and caregivers of the neurodiverse to share our journeys together and help spread our wealth of resources to the community!
These meetings provide a safe space for parents/guardians/anyone who needs additional support while caring for neurodiverse children. Our mission for this support group is to connect, share, and support one another on our journey.
First Thursday of month 7-8:30pm and Every third Wednesday from 7-8:30pm

MNprov Mixers
2024-10-04 18:30 - 20:00, 2024-10-11 18:30 - 20:00, 2024-10-18 18:30 - 20:00, 2024-10-25 18:30 - 20:00, 2024-11-01 18:30 - 20:00 | Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 2561 Victoria Street North, Roseville, MN, 55113
Free Workshops for Neurodivergent Adults
ND adults benefit from these free applied improvisation workshops as they develop social connections, build relationships, and feel belonging. Within this safe and trusting environment, participants learn to become comfortable taking reasonable risks & making mistakes, increase their resilience and ability to tolerate uncertainty, improve their communication and collaboration skills, learn to listen and accept new ideas, and become more flexible and able to consider different perspectives. https://mnprov.org/fall-mnprov-mixers

Workshop: Working While Autistic
2024-10-09 09:00 - 12:00 | Virtual Event
Professional success is possible for every autistic adult. In this workshop, intended for autistic adults and those who support them, you will gain an understanding of key employment issues affecting the autism community and practical strategies for getting and keeping meaningful employment opportunities. We will explore topics like career advancement, job searches, resume building, interviewing, job performance, disclosure, and accommodations from a neurodivergent perspective.
Objectives
Participants will…
1. Consider their career goals and priorities
2. Demonstrate and understanding of the job search and interview process
3. Identify strategies that support success in the workplace
4. Understand what to consider when disclosing disabilities and seeking reasonable accommodations

TEApoyo and MAAN Special Education Series
2024-10-09 13:30 - 15:30, 2024-10-16 13:30 - 15:30, 2024-10-23 13:30 - 15:30 | Virtual Event
We are excited to remind you about our new learning series for parents and families, in collaboration between TEApoyo MN and the Multicultural Autism Action Network. These workshops are designed to help you better understand the educational rights of children and youth with disabilities and how to access and advocate for the necessary supports at school. 🧠💡
Here is the full schedule so you don’t miss any of our sessions:
📅 Dates and Topics:
· Wednesday, October 2
What is an IEP and How to Request One?
🕒 1:30pm – 3:00pm (CT)
· Wednesday, October 9
Key Concepts in IEPs: IDEA, FAPE, PWN, and LRE
🕒 1:30pm – 3:00pm (CT)
· Wednesday, October 16
What to Do if You Disagree with the School
🕒 1:30pm – 3:00pm (CT)
· Wednesday, October 23
Q&A Session: Bring Your Questions About IEPs
🕒 1:30pm – 3:00pm (CT)
📲 Register here: https://forms.gle/RXkj2E3wGuwvhinS6
You can attend the session that interests you most or join all to gain comprehensive knowledge. We look forward to having you with us! 🙌✨
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. Live Spanish translation will be available during the sessions.

AuSM LGBTQIA Support Group
2024-10-10 18:30 - 20:00 | Virtual Event
Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder who identify as LGBTQIA gather to discuss topics related to the intersection of autism and gender/sexuality. This group is held virtually only.

Saturday Fun/Respite Day
2024-10-12 13:00 - 17:00 | Laura Baker Services Association, 211 Oak Street, Northfield, MN, 55053
TIME FOR RESPITE AND SOCIAL INTERACTION
A monthly program for families who care for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. Adults and children ages 5 and above with special needs who live at home with their families are welcome to join LBSA on the second Saturday of the month for crafts, games, outdoor activities, and snacks. Sign-up on the LBSA website, https://www.laurabaker.org/services/family-support/
The events are designed to provide a few hours of respite for caregivers and social interaction for participants. Pre-registration is required. Families must complete an enrollment medical form prior to the event. $20 per person fee is charged for each event; fee waivers are available for those that qualify.

Respite Saturday Fun Day
2024-10-12 13:00 - 17:00 | Laura Baker Services Association, 211 Oak Street, Northfield, MN, 55053
Unwind and reset while your loved one enjoys Saturday Fun at Laura Baker Services Association at 1 p.m! This inclusive, four-hour event is catered to individuals ages five and older with intellectual or developmental disabilities. A $20 ticket will include snacks, activities, games and music while socializing and building new connections!
Cost is $20. Fee waivers are available to those who qualify.
Learn more and secure your spot: laurabaker.org/services/family-support
Contact: Atiya Mansfield, mansfield@neuger.com, 612.664.0726

Relaxed Performance - Spongebob the Musical Youth Edition
2024-10-12 14:00 - 16:00 | Children’s Performance Arts, 6101 Scandia Trail, Forest Lake, MN, 55025, United States
For every mainstage show in our season, Children’s Performing Arts hosts a relaxed performance. This allows patrons with sensory, social, physical, and cognitive needs to attend a production in a safe and welcoming environment. Modifications to this performance include lights remaining dim in the audience, elimination of intense lighting and sound effects, and audiences being free to move around the space and make any noises they need to make. Fidgets, noise-canceling headphones, and modified seating are also welcome into the space! A social narrative and character description guide will be sent to patrons the week of the show.

$24 for Adults, $16 for Students and Seniors (Pay What You Can Tickets are also available!)

maddier@childrensperformingartsmn.org
(651) 348-8578
4941 Long Ave
White Bear Lake, MN 55110

Sensory Friendly Sunday at the Walker Art Center
2024-10-13 08:00 - 11:00 | Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Sensory Friendly Sunday is a monthly event is designed for kids, teens, and adults with sensory processing differences, autism spectrum disorder or developmental disabilities. From 8 am to 11 am on the second Sunday of the month, the galleries will be closed to the general public, and sound and light levels will be adjusted, allowing visitors to enjoy the museum in a calm environment with accommodations such as quiet spaces, fidgets, and sunglasses available. Experience select Walker exhibitions, make art, watch a short film, or just hang out in a different setting. Featured exhibitions and activities change each month. Visit https://walkerart.org/visit/sensory-friendly-sundays/ for more information or to register.
Sensory Friendly Sunday was developed in consultation with the Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM) and the University of Minnesota’s Occupational Therapy Program.
For more information about accessibility at the Walker, visit our Access page: https://walkerart.org/visit/accessibility.

Sensory Friendly Event - Eagles Nest Indoor Playground
2024-10-13 17:30 - 19:30 | Eagles Nest, 400 10th St. NW, New Brighton, MN, 55112, United States
Does your child or someone you are close to, have a child that has challenges with traditional playground settings? How about large crowds? New Brighton Parks and Recreation understands that not all children can attend the Eagles Nest during normal business timeframes. That is why we have partnered with the Minnesota Autism Society to create a series of Sensory Friendly events at the very popular Eagles Nest Indoor Playground at the New Brighton Community Center.
There will be a limited number of admissions sold at a reduced rate for each session. Each is from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Attendees can guarantee admission by pre-purchasing admission for their children on the City’s website.
The Parks and Recreation Department will have additional staff on site to assist with accommodation requests, as well as a quiet space for those who need a break during the event.
Lori.Hokenson@newbrightonmn.gov

See Me Neurodiverse support meeting
2024-10-16 19:00 - 20:30 | See Me Neurodiverse, 6000 McColl Drive, Savage, MN, 55378
This is a support meeting for the parents and caregivers of the neurodiverse to share our journeys together and help spread our wealth of resources to the community!
See Me’s main event that we host is a Family/Caregiver Support Meeting. We meet for an in-person support group on the first Thursday and the third Wednesday of every month.
These meetings provide a safe space for parents/guardians/anyone who needs additional support while caring for neurodiverse children. Our mission for this support group is to connect, share, and support one another on our journey.

MICC Experience Days
2024-10-17 10:00 - 12:30, 2024-10-17 14:00 - 16:30, 2024-10-18 10:00 - 12:30, 2024-10-18 14:00 - 16:30 | Woodlake Lutheran Church, 2120 W 76th St, Richfield, MN, 55423
Join us on October 17 and 18 during the MEA break for our MICC Experience Days (previously named Preview Days)! We are excited to welcome autistic and neurodivergent young adults, their families, and professionals such as educators and therapists, to explore all that MICC has to offer.

Free – Registration required

Choose from our morning sessions (10:00 AM – 12:30 PM) or afternoon sessions (2:00 PM – 4:30 PM). Each session will feature:
An informational session covering MICC’s programs, admissions process, and financial/resource readiness.
A Q&A panel with MICC Ambassadors, including current participants and graduates sharing their experiences and insights.
A guided tour of our vibrant campus.
An opportunity to connect with other attendees, share experiences and learn from their questions in an intimate group setting
We will be providing fidgets at all tables, and breaks through out the event. In the registration, we also ask that you let us know your sensory preferences so that we can plan to support you.
Discover how MICC can support your journey to live independently, work purposefully and thrive in community. Register now for an inspiring and informative experience that could be the first step toward your future with MICC. We can’t wait to meet you!

AuSM Professional Networking Group
2024-10-17 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Event
If you’re a professional who works with autistic clients – or are working towards your licensure so you can – AuSM’s Counseling and Consulting team has a resource to help you connect with therapists in our space. AuSM’s Professional Networking Group offers a chance for therapists to meet with other professionals who see clients with autism to ask questions, share cases, and build peer-to-peer relationships.
This group is meant for:

Therapists
Psychologists
Occupational therapists
Psychiatrists
Social workers
Case managers
Healthcare providers

As we meet, one member of AuSM’s staff will share an anonymized case study, then open the group for others to share relevant experiences that we can all learn from. This is a great opportunity to troubleshoot your problems and learn from the wisdom of other professionals as we work through challenging cases.
With increased diagnosis of autism, therapists are becoming aware that they need to increase competency in serving these clients; this group can help. We paused this networking group during the pandemic, but now it’s time we pick it back up. Like you, we’ve learned a lot since this group last met. Eager to likewise learn and share? Let’s talk it out – and then keep it going.

Financial Training Open House at Summit Academy OIC
2024-10-17 15:00 - 17:00 | Summit Academy OIC, 935 Olson Memorial Hwy, MPLS, MN, 55405
If you’re an adult with autism who loves working with numbers and would like to get a job at a bank, there’s a school in Minneapolis hosting an open house that provides a weeks-long financial training program and job placement once the training is done. October 17th from 3 to 5 p.m. Summit Academy OIC is hosting an open house. Adults with autism and parents of autistic adults are welcome to come and learn more. Registration is preferred, but not required. Learn more at saoic.org.
Join us at a free Open House at Summit Academy that will highlight all of our trainings: Construction, IT, Healthcare, Financial Services, and more! Come and learn how you can gain skills needed to land a career in the field of your choosing, obtain your GED, and so much more! All this at no-out-of-pocket cost to you.
Come and enjoy complimentary snacks, tours, demonstrations, and detailed information on the admissions and enrollment process.

AuSM Family Members of Adults on the Spectrum Support Group
2024-10-17 18:30 - 20:00 | Virtual Event
Parents, caregivers, and other family members of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (18+) gather to discuss challenges, triumphs, and strategies for support. This group is held virtually only.

Sensory Friendly Saturday, Bell Museum
2024-10-19 08:00 - 10:00 | Bell Museum, St. Paul, Minnesota
Sensory Friendly Visits

The quietest time to visit the museum is late afternoon, when we have fewer visitors and our space is generally uncrowded. Be sure to check out the items you can borrow at the museum below!
Sensory friendly resources
Visitors are welcome to check out additional resources like our quiet spaces. You can borrow a sensory pack with tools such as visual timers, weighted lap pads, and hearing protection if it helps make the visit more enjoyable, and a social narrative is available for download to prepare for your visit. (Note, this is currently not accurate with COVID-19 procedures. Check out this general social narrative from the Autism Society of Minnesota). Read more about the museum’s other accessibility resources here.
Sensory Friendly Saturday
Prepare for your visit to Sensory Friendly Saturday with a short video – click here to watch.

bellinfo@umn.edu
612.626-9660

Trick or Trot
2024-10-19 14:00 - 17:00 | MN
We Can Ride invites you to join us for an afternoon of fall fun at our Trick or Trot event! On Saturday, 10/19, from 2:00 to 5:00 PM, we’ll host a festive gathering packed with games, activities, and excitement for all ages. Attendees can enjoy Trick-or-Treating with our horses, hay rides, face painting, and more. Costumes are encouraged to add to the Halloween fun!
The Barn: 4301 COUTY ROAD 24 MEDINA, MN 55359
Tickets are $15 per adult and $5 per child. They can be purchased on our website. Visit https://www.wecanride.org/and scan the QR code on the Trick or Trot flyer image.

The Brick Oven Pizza Food Truck will be on-site (credit or exact change purchase). Proceeds from this event directly benefit We Can Ride’s therapeutic riding program, which offers individuals with disabilities and the greater community the opportunity to experience the enriching connection between horses and humans.
We hope you can join us for this fun-filled, family-friendly afternoon!Trick or Trot 2024 Poster (2)

AuSM Independent Adults with ASD Support Group
2024-10-24 18:30 - 20:00 | Virtual Event
Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder gather in this typically larger group to support each other, socialize, and discuss common interests and concerns. This group is held virtually only.

Trunk or Treat in Mankato
2024-10-25 17:00 - 19:00 | Kennedy Soccor Field, 2600 E Main St, Mankato, MN
Annual Inclusive Fun
We’re excited to announce that the Southern Minnesota Autism Coalition is hosting our Annual Inclusive Trunk or Treat! We’re looking for individuals, businesses, and organizations interested in hosting a trunk for this special event on Friday, October 25th, from 5 PM to 7 PM.
This event is a wonderful opportunity to create a welcoming space for families with individuals with autism and other disabilities. If you’re interested in participating, please email us at smac.mankato@gmail.com or message us on Facebook.
We’ll be setting up in the soccer field parking lot across from Kennedy Elementary.

Halloween hang out!
2024-10-31 16:00 - 19:00 | MN
Come hang with the community. Enjoy a Halloween event in any way you want. Candy? Costumes? Enjoying the evening in the Streetcar?
Candy. Rides. Costumes if you feel like it. Have some fun with the community. Please contact me for accommodations. Please note we do not run in the rain. Check the website for cancellation. Platform and Depot wheelchair accessible. Streetcar has stairs.
2330 w 42nd st
MPLS, MN 55410
$3/ride, $7 ride whole time
Trolleyride.org
952.925.3716
leahharp@gmail.com

MNprov Mixers - Virtual
2024-11-06 18:30 - 20:00 | Virtual Event
The MNprov Mixers are a safe place for neurodivergent adults (18+) to have fun, meet new people, increase confidence, and decrease stress. No experience necessary. This event is FREE. Come every week, or only once, or somewhere in-between.
Improv is inherently inclusive. All participants are needed for a scene to succeed, and everyone’s suggestions are incorporated into the scene. The improv rule of “Yes, and . . .” allows participants to feel safe and supported and more willing to take risks. As players say “YES” to each other and add their own ideas, they build trust and create something brand new together.
This is a small group activity with fewer than 20 participants. Individuals are welcome to take breaks as needed. Participants are encouraged to let us know how we can best support them. Because this is on ZOOM, participants from greater Minnesota have an accessible way to attend.
A social narrative about the MNprov Mixers workshops and a registration link can be found on our website.
952.649.9699, catherine@mnprov.org
